Euphoric Agony

You Know.

Taehyung was livid. How could some Jeongguk-stan, which had looked almost too much like his dongsaeng, just flaunt himself in their faces after what Namjoon had just gone through? After what they’d all just been through. It was disgusting.

“I can hear you thinking, TaeTae,” Jimin said from his spot next to him. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Taehyung snapped, regretting it almost instantly when he saw Jimin’s forehead crease with worry. “Sorry, I just.. How could they do that? How? What makes someone think that.. That that stuff’s just..” Taehyung raised his hands before dropping them back to his thin thighs with a quiet thud. “How can someone think that’s okay, Jiminie?”

“It’s not, but Tae-”

“No, there’s no buts,” Taehyung cut him off, clearly frustrated. Lowering his voice, Taehyung whispered softly, “it’s not okay.”

“I know,” Jimin pulled Taehyung in for a hug, sitting awkwardly in the stiff hospital chair. “It’ll be okay.”

“Gukkie, he..” Taehyung was crying. “He’s..” he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

“It’ll be okay,” Jimin repeated, knowing the finish to that sentence, and not wanting to go there. Not right now.

Jin sighed, shuffling through the endless amounts of paperwork he’d received for Hoseok, and Namjoon’s release forms. Namjoon could leave tonight, but Hoseok had been injured worse. The other members all had their own injuries, but none that required a night-stay at the hospital. The doctor had also informed Jin of the other member’s injuries.

Yoongi had a minor concussion, and slight whiplash from the abrupt stop the van had made, Hoseok had seriously injured his ribs, fractured his tibia, and had deep bruises from his seatbelt. Jin sighed at that one, Hoseok wouldn’t be dancing for a good while. Namjoon’s shoulder was dislocated, and his fingers were broken from them being torn from Jeongguk’s, but otherwise, the leader was fine, given a few cuts and bruises.

Jimin and Taehyung only had minor bruising, and Jin himself had only two broken fingers.

Jin couldn’t stop thinking about Jeongguk as he kept working on Namjoon’s discharge papers. He hated the way the maknae had screamed before the van exploded, and hated the kid who’d tried to pose as their beloved youngest member.

Maybe it was really Jeongguk.

“Shut up,” Jin mumbled to himself, probably sounding certifiable.

He sounded just like Jeongguk.

“You’re getting on my nerves,” Jin continued to talk with himself, hoping he was alone.

Looked like him, too. Wasn’t that what Jeongguk was wearing during dance practice?

“Stop,” Jin whispered crisply.

Don’t listen to what Taehyung says. You know it was Jeongguk.

Jin slammed his hand onto the table he was using to sign the forms on, realizing then that he wasn’t completely alone. The nurse just across the room gave him a concerned look, accompanied with a small, awkward smile. Jin returned the smile, before refocusing on his work.

You know.

Jin brushed the thought aside.

You know. You know, you know, youknowyouknowyouknow-

Jin flinched heavily when a hand rested on his shoulder. Looking up immediately, he softened his gaze.

“Oh,” Jin smiled, taking the coffee that was offered to him, though he didn’t really drink much anymore. “It’s just you.”

“Yup, just me, sorry,” Namjoon joked, sipping his own coffee. “Those my papers?”

“Uh,” Jin blinked rather dumbfoundedly, before handing Namjoon’s papers over. “Yeah, they- they are. How are you?”

“Don’t ask me that,” Namjoon smiled sadly at his eldest Hyung, shaking his head. “I’m fine.”

“Oh yeah, obviously,” Jin laughed quietly. “I could tell from your depression smile. Really, are you okay?”

It took a minute. “I could be better.”

“I’m sorry,” Jin fidgeted in his seat. “I know you were close with J-”

“Don’t,” Namjoon snapped, straightening himself from his slouched position. “Don’t, Hyung. It’s over.”

“Namjoon-ah, I’m sorry,” Jin ghosted a hand over Namjoon’s forearm, unsure whether or not the leader needed physical touch right then. “Anyway, how’re your fingers?”

Namjoon huffed, raising the bandaged joints. “Won’t be remixing for a while.”

“Hoseok-ah won’t be dancing, maybe you two can cry together,” Jin tried not to offend Namjoon.

The two talked for a while, before Jin was giving Namjoon, and Hoseok’s release forms to the front desk clerk. Namjoon had a firm hold on SeokJin’s sweater sleeve when they were walking out the door.